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Dec. 16, 1930.

la url/Ill "lvl/z mim ' Patented Dec. 16, 1930- UNITED STATES lPATENT oI-fl-lclzz4 JOI-IN RALIPH HOGE AND LEONARD D. S'OUBIER, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO I AMERICAN PATENTS CORPORATION, A CORPORATION 0F OHIOV Y GAME APPARATUS Application led January 14, 1930. Serial No. 420,772.

The present invention relates to improvements in game apparatus and more articularly to means for sup orting golf alls or. like game pieces in position to be driven toward a target.

An object of the invention is the provision of a tee which may be repeatedly used for anexceptionally great length of time withoutl breakage or distor'tiqn.

Another object is a provision of a tee-which will automatlcally'i'esume a predetermined ball supporting position after each drive and thereby avoid the necessity for replacing tees repeatedly.

A further object is the provisionof a tee which underpressure of a golf club or the like,will quickly move out of the path of travel of the club and then automatically return to its former position.

It is also an object to provide a teeing apparatusin which the tee. is mounted in a portable platform comprising a mass of bristles arran ed to simulate an area f grass.

@ther o jects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

Inthe accompanying drawin s: Y

Fig. 1 is a perspective view sowing the improved tee and supporting platform therelFig. 2-is a detail sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line II-II of ig. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken 'A at right angles to Fig. 2. 85"" Fig. 4 is anelevational view showing another form of the invention.

In the illustrated embodiment ofv our ,in-T

vention, the tee 5 is mounted on a platform 6 or base which may be suitably anchored in the ground as shown. The platform may Lcomprise a box-like receptacle 7 or chamber in which the tee 5 is placed, said receptacle having an o en upper side through which a portion o the 'tee projects. The upper margin of the side walls 8 terminates in outwardly directed attaching Hanges 9 through which the. receptacle 7 is connected to a base plate 10;' the latter equipped with anchoring means at one end in the-form of apertured ears 11 through which pins 12 are driven. An

opening 13 inthe late 10 registers with the open upper .end o the receptacle 7 Afield or plot vof bristles 14 carried by a plate 15 attached to the base plate 10 are suitably colored to simulate a .grass area. This of course gives the apparatus a pleasing appearthe like therefrom.

The tee is so mounted that under pressure of a club in driving a ball from the tee, it

will quickly move out of the path of travel of the club. Provision is alsol made to automatically return the tee to lits original position. This may be accomplished in various ways but we have by actual practise found that pivoting a resillent tee upon a suitable support and. vsuitably counterweighting said tee so that it always returns to a ball supporting position after a drive, is the most satisfactory arrangement.

The tee 5 comprises a seat 1,8 superimposed on a neck 19 rising from a body 20. The body consists for the greater part of a counterweight 21 formed of lead or similar material encased in rubber or rubber compositionn The neck 19 and seat 18 may and preferably are Vformed of live rubber. The rubber encasing the counterweight may be similarly; formed. The neck'is of course highly resillent and yields readily when struck by a golf club or the like, yet quickly resumes its original position..

- By providing a pivotal mountlng for the tee, movement of they latter is greatly facilitated. A haring sleeve 22 extends 'trans'- ver'sely throu weight 21. vpivot pin 22--A 1s arranged in the sleeve 22 and has its ends journalled in bearing openings 23 inthe arms 24 of a" holder 2,5. This holder is substantially -U- shape and formed'with guide openings26 in bosses 27 adapted to slidingly receive guide posts 28 on a carrier 29. This carrier 29 may be attached to thebottom of thel receptacle the upperend of the counter 7 or any other suitable base. An adjusting screw 30 provides means for re ulatine' the elevation of the tee relative to t e plat orm.

If while driving a ball or other object from a position on the tee, the driving club should strike the tee, the neck 19 moves forwardly in the direction of travelof the club. This forward movement of the neck is immediately followed by swinging of the entire tee about the pivot pin 22--A. Thus the tee readily moves out of the path of travel of the club and because of such movement together with the highlyresilient construction `of the tee, is affected very little, if any, by the blows of the clubs. As a result the tees have exceptionally long life and seldom ref quire replacement. Furthermore, repeated setting up of tees, before a ball can be teed up is entirely unnecessary where our invention is used.

In Fig. i we have shown a spring 31 connecting a core member 32 in the tee with the i ing movement on the support, a counts@ weight on the tee and means for sliding:r the tee and counterweight vertically and holjding them at various elevations.

2. In combination, a support, a golf ball tee, a holder forthe tee, pivotal connection between the tee and holder, vertical sliding connection between the holder and Isupport whiie maintaining the upper end in a horizontai plane.

and manually controlled means for adjusting the' holder vertically.

8. ln combination, a support, a golf ball tee, a holder for the tee, pivotal connection between the tee and holder, a counterweight yieldingly holding the tee upright in the holder, and vertical sliding connection between the holder and support.

d. combination, support, a golf ball tee, substantially iii-@shaped holder for the tee, aantal pivotal. connection between theicc Viol aliy yieldingiy h le lioider, vertical siiding connection E 'he liolder and support and manually actuated means '53er sliding the hoider andsetting it at various elevations to change the ei'evation or the tee o1 ine latter 5. in combination, a support comprising a U-shaped frame having; a pair of opposed vertical slideways open at their upper ends a goli bali tee holder slidinfrly supported in the slideways, a horizontal hinge pin car-- ried by the holder, ,geilt bail pivoted meaoee hinge pin for yieldingly holding the tee upright.

Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, this 8th day of January,

JOHN RALPH HOGE. LEGNARD D. SOUBIER. 

